Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-16
THE FORESTER.
1,ransD,nntino yoy,,, 1,..,


R. ". Phipps, at the head of the For.
estry Bureau in Canada, sends the follow
ing communication to the Toronto Globe
IN answer to query how young trees
might DE moved after attaining consider
able size:
"There are two ways, in one or the other
of which this is most generally done.
One is put in practice towards fall,
when trench is cut round each tree a
couple of feet deep, enclosing circle five
or six feet in diameter. The trench
is then filled in with straw, which, while
allowing the mass of the disk to freeze
when winter arrives, keeps it unfrozen at
the point of its junction with the earth
below. AS soon Us this state is reached,
it is time to remove them, which is done
by lifting the whole mass, tree, roots,
and earth, sometimes weighing ton, on
sledge by means of levers, and drawing
it to where an excavation, made in the
fall, is ready to receive it. AS soon as the
earth has thawed in the spring all open
ings are filled in and leyelled. I have
known hundreds Of trees, many of them
evergreens, fifteen to twenty feet high,
thus moved, and do not recollect one
failure. The trees, to use common ex-
preston, "never know they have been
moved" The other method is practised
in England, and, believe, in the States.
It is carried out by the use of the tree
litter. an apparatus consisting of two
large wheels connected by an axle and
furnished with shafts. The root is
trenched round three feet deep, and the
ball of earth fastened by chains to the
axle, which is SO contrived that it forms
q windlass, and lifts the whole root
above the surface, when it is drawn by q
horse wherever needed, and planted at
once: The disk of earth is three feet
two feet deep. This is said to succeed
we'll. 1 should think q combination of
these systems would be the best in
Canada, and that very rapid and effective
work might be performed. It is quite
possible, by these means, to change a
field into park at once, without the
usual slow process of growth on the spot.
"The great need in many parks and
streets in Ontario is better understand
ing by those who attend to the trees of
what they are doing. knew one instance
where it was the practice, for many years,
to collect and cart away the leaves as they
fell each fall. 1t is probable that this wat
done very intelligently on the part of some
gardener whose land received the benefit,
but the trees necessarily suffered in exact
pIopOItlOus WueIo BIdsS 10 uol uosuou
around trees they are always much bene-
flied by having the surrounding earth
stirred, not so deeply as to touch the roots,
and at this time the leaves could be turned
under. Where the sod is desired it can be
lifted, and fresh earth, composted leaves
or well-rotted manure placed under, and
the sods relaid. I have used this method
with great advantage both for fruit and
forest trees. The chief error in manage
ment seems, however, to be the method OF
pruning. Evergreens are better Of neve,
being pruned at all. The growth Of a
branch is far better checked if necessary
by breaking off some of the fresh growth
at the ends. When branch dies it should
be removed, but not otherwise. AS for
deciduous trees, when they are pruned the
limb should be cut off close to the tree.
When a stub is left, say one, two or even
three inches long-a very common practice
it rots to the heart of the tree, and greatly
Injuries its vitality. On the other hand, if
tho cut be made close to the trunk, the
bark will at once commence to grow owe,
it, and, except in the case of very large
branches, no injury, but often benefit, will
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